LONG BEACH – Mayor Bob Foster’s ambitious “master plan” to bring the city $571 million for infrastructure improvements will go to the ballot in November and needs approval of two-thirds of the voters to pass.

The plan, officially called the Long Beach Infrastructure Reinvestment Act, is a parcel tax that will cost a single-family residence about $120 per year through 2044, and will be raised periodically in accordance with the cost of living. The tax would repay bonds the city would take out.

The tax for property owners likely will affect owners of the city’s high rises and parking garages the most because what they would pay would be based on square footage. The tax is 8.8 cents per square foot for an office building and 7.5 cents per square foot for a parking garage.

Foster’s plan would fix hundreds of miles of streets, sidewalks and alleys. It would also replace nine fire stations, renovate libraries, rebuild the Main Library, build a police training center and renovate community centers.

City Manager Pat West’s office presented the far-reaching, 10-year plan, but did not specifically say where all

$571 million would go.

However, West’s staff did detail that $275 million will go to streets, sidewalks and alleys. Specifically, $185 million will go to streets, $45 million to sidewalks and $45 million to alleys.

The main argument is that many streets, sidewalks and alleys have been neglected, and the only way that can stop is if the parcel tax passes.

“The longer we wait to do this,” Foster said, “the more money it’s going to cost.”

The plan needed two-thirds of a City Council vote to go to the ballot, and after more than a two-hour discussion, it passed 8-1.

Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske was the lone dissenting vote.

Her main argument was that the vote should be delayed so there could be more discussion about the huge plan.

“There are so many questions,” Schipske said, “It would be much better to answer them before our vote and not after the fact.”

The parcel tax would have to go to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 8 to be on the Nov. 4 ballot. City Council meets again on Aug. 5, and West said there would not be enough time to modify the plan within a few days to send it to the county.

Foster’s response to Schipske’s push to delay was this: “I know this sounds like this just came up, but this has been discussed in this council since 2003. This problem has been here for a decade, and nothing has been done about it.”

The main reason why Foster and most of the Council members say this parcel tax is needed is that money for the type of repairs that need to be done are not in the general fund. Many of the repairs, such as decaying sidewalks and streets, appear to be basic ones that the city hasn’t addressed because of lack of money earmarked for infrastructure in the general fund.

Most of the council members had the attitude that the tax positively needs to be voted for.

“The primary question,” said 8 th District Councilwoman Rae Gabelich, “is what do you want your city to look like?”

Landlords will be affected by the tax, but not renters. However, one concern raised by council members including 2 nd District Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal is that landlords will trickle the tax down to renters and raise rents $10 per month.

Some homeowners will be exempt from the tax. They are seniors, the disabled, faith-based organizations and not-for-profit organizations.

The parcel tax will join a

$1.2 billion construction measure put on the ballot by the Long Beach Board of Education to fund repairs, new facilities and improvements.

Regardless of the timing, Foster sees the tax as necessary.

“I know that this is a burden, particularly when the economy is in turmoil,” he said. “But this has to get done somehow. We have to invest in this.”

In other action

•The City Council unanimously voted to update the telephone tax, which is paid to the city by telephone companies. The measure is to keep up with new technology and not burden only land-line users. No new costs to consumers are expected.

•A recommendation to receive and file West’s report regarding the city’s financial relationship with the Press-Telegram was delayed and will be brought back to the council when it meets next on Aug. 5.

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